#21 Are we going to get a TIP for Mainland Mexico?

With our stomachs turning cartwheels  and a silence that could break glass, we made our way to the ferry terminal in La Paz. The closer we approached  that Banjercito, the faster the blood was pumping through our veins. There was only one thought racing through our minds:

“If we can’t get the TIP here, then we may as well just live on the Baja California”

It was a matter of heads or tails!

The officer at the Banjercito was a very nice chap and he dutifully began filling the forms. Everything seemed to run smoothly, that was, until he looked up and said, “You have a 1 ton truck right? That is too heavy.”

Our worst fear! As if our hearts weren’t already beating fast enough!

“Was this it? The dead end to our dream of reaching Argentina?”

Well it appeared the officer felt he needed to explain this in more depth. He came out from behind his counter and accompanied us to our vehicle, where he pointed out the sticker displayed in our door which outlined our exceedingly over the limit figure.

There was no way we were under 3.5 tonnes.

As we were already mentally preparing for a life on the Baja…where we would buy property?…What we would do for a living?…the officer said: “But there is a way”.

Had we just heard right? Did he just say there was a way?

As you can imagine, we were all ears.

He then went on to explain that he could issue us a piece of paper that exempted us as an overweight vehicle, as long as we get a stamp and authorized signature from customs that is.

We were over by customs in no time at all, and our lucky streak continued. The representative took our document, glanced at it, disappeared into her office and with hardly a minute gone by, returned with the paper; stamped and signed. Our exemption had been granted! We were nearly there.

We quickly rushed back to our agent at the Banjercito, who gladly informed us:

“Now, I can issue you the TIP!”

Wow! After all those weeks of worry, ifs and buts…We got it!

To say we were relieved is an understatement…we were jumping for joy! And our little Zoe too. Although for her it was more to do with the huge boat that had been standing in the background all this time, dangling temptation in front of her nose, like a carrot at the end of a stick. Yes, the overnight ferry to Mazatlan was waiting, and we needed to purchase some tickets and hop on board.

We chose the TMC cargo ferry over Baja Ferries because of the opportunity to sleep in our camper instead of a cabin. It may have meant that we would be packed in like a can of sardines, in and amongst the huge trucks, but we were able to sleep in Silverskin, and that’s all that mattered.

It was quite emotional waving goodbye to the Baja California after three very special months. But as we sailed into the sunset and as the full moon rose into a perfect starlight sky, we knew exciting adventures awaited, and that most importantly, our journey through the Americas could continue!

We’ll now definitely ‘meat you around the world’!

Want to see this story in motion? Klick here!